Duke Energy Renewables Acquires California Project from SolarWorld

Duke surpasses 100 MW milestone in commercial solar energy generation

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIF., April 10, 2013 (joint release from SolarWorld and Duke) – Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, today announced it has acquired two commercial solar power projects near Twentynine Palms, Calif., from project developer SolarWorld, the largest U.S. solar manufacturer for more than 35 years.

The twin projects, named Highlander Solar 1 and 2, are in close proximity and will be run as a single operation. It will collectively generate 21 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, enough to power more than 4,000 average homes each year.

“Highlander will be the company’s largest commercial solar farm in the nation,” said Duke Energy Renewables President Greg Wolf. “It enlarges our footprint in a key U.S. renewables market while delivering affordable, zero-emission solar power to help the state’s customers meet their renewable energy goals.”

Southern California Edison will buy all of the output generated by the project through a 20-year power purchase agreement.

After purchasing the sites in May of 2012, SolarWorld directed the project’s engineering, procurement, permitting and construction and will complete Highlander in the second quarter of this year. Commercial operation will follow shortly thereafter. At the peak of construction, the project employed more than 200 workers, the majority from surrounding communities.

“This project will be an asset in the portfolio of Duke Energy, a nationally recognized leader in the field of clean-energy development,” said Kevin Kilkelly, president of SolarWorld Americas, the company’s commercial unit. “Its investment underscores our position as a premier developer of large-scale solar projects.”

Highlander, which SolarWorld originally named the Desert Star Solar Projects, sits on two land parcels and features 100,188 SolarWorld Sunmodule solar panels manufactured in the company’s Hillsboro, Ore., factory and mounted on SolarWorld’s Suntrac single-axis trackers. When commissioned, the project will rank among the state’s largest operating crystalline-silicon solar installations.

With the addition of Highlander, Duke Energy Renewables now owns more than 100 MW of generating capacity at 15 U.S. solar farms. Since 2007, Duke Energy has invested more than $2.5 billion to grow its commercial wind and solar business.

Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

About Duke Energy Renewables

Duke Energy Renewables, part of Duke Energy’s Commercial Businesses, is a leader in developing innovative wind and solar energy generation projects for customers throughout the United States. The company’s growing portfolio of commercial renewable assets includes 15 wind farms and 15 solar farms in operation in 10 states, totaling more than 1,700 megawatts in electric-generating capacity. Learn more at www.duke-energy.com/renewables. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.

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SolarWorld Real Value

SolarWorld manufactures and sells solar power solutions and in doing so contributes to a cleaner energy supply worldwide. As the largest solar producer in the United States and Europe, SolarWorld employs about 3,200 people and carries out production in Hillsboro, Ore., and Freiberg and Arnstadt, Germany. From the raw material silicon to solar wafers, cells and panels, SolarWorld manages all stages of production ‒ including its own research and development. The company maintains high social standards at all locations across the globe and is committed to resource- and energy-efficient production. Headquartered in Bonn, Germany, SolarWorld was founded in 1998 and has been publicly traded on the stock market since 1999. For more information, visit www.solarworld-usa.com.